Des Chutes Historical Museum in Bend, Deschutes County, United States | Museum

Welcome to Des Chutes Historical Museum, Bend, United States. Sharing the History of Bend and Deschutes County, the Des Chutes Historical Museum is dedicated to the heritage of Deschutes County. Encompassing Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Tumalo, Sisters and Terrebonne, discover why this has always been a great place to live and play.

Why Des Chutes? The name Deschutes originated when French explorers referred to the riviere des chutes, meaning the river of the falls. They were referring to the falls where the Deschutes River empties into the Columbia River. The name was applied to early post offices and eventually simplified into the modern deschutes.   Since 1980, the Des Chutes Historical Museum has been located in the historic Reid School, located at 129 NW Idaho, Bend, Oregon.

The Museum abounds with history and relics of the past lives of Deschutes County. Explore life along the obsidian routes with the native people who passed along the Deschtues river and fur trapping with early explorers; see the logging and railroad barons racing to settle the last open spaces amidst the Ponderosa Pines forests; meet the pioneers of Deschutes County who settled along the river and raised their children, grew their crops or started businesses and prospered. Explore this and more inside Reid School, itself a historic landmark for Deschutes County.

Continuing your adventure through the Museum, you may also find yourself inside the research library checking out historical photographs of the area, mulling through the gift store for reference materials and gifts.  Planning a visit? Click on the events page to see upcoming events and get involved with the history of Deschutes County. There is truly something for everyone.